Benches and Squats with a narrow bar?

I don't have enough room at home to use a full 7' bar to work out, so
I've been getting by with a 5' standard bar. I've been using it to do
low weight/high rep squats and benches with no rack to get myself back
into the weight training thing (I haven't been doing it for years), but
now I want to start moving up with the weight again.

Problem is, I don't feel comfortable adding too much weight without
first getting some sort of rack to hold up the bar while I put weight
on, and while I get under it to start lifting.

Other problem is, no one seems to make a generic rack that fits a 5'
bar. There actually seem to be a lot of rack/bench combinations that
support a 5' bar, apparently aimed at beginner/younger audiences.
Powertech makes a nice-looking one that can be adjusted for olympic or
narrow sizes: http://www.powertecfitness.com/narrowbench.htm ... And
I've even seen some with what they call a "squat rack attachment"
though I'm not sure if I trust it:
http://www.fitness-equipment.com/acatalog/Fitness_Equipment_Narrow_Wei..._Bench_

But what I'd really want is just a free-standing, adjustable-height
rack that can be used either for squats, or for benches, without the
actual bench attached. Something like this:
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/93132.html ... except one that supports
narrow 5' standard bars.

Anyone seen anything like this around?

Thanks,
Ken.

"PenguiN" <taylok2.TakeThisOut@alum.rpi.edu> wrote in message
news:1148663318.142608.196910@j55g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>I don't have enough room at home to use a full 7' bar to work out, so
> I've been getting by with a 5' standard bar. I've been using it to do
> low weight/high rep squats and benches with no rack to get myself back
> into the weight training thing (I haven't been doing it for years),
> but
> now I want to start moving up with the weight again.
>
> Problem is, I don't feel comfortable adding too much weight without
> first getting some sort of rack to hold up the bar while I put weight
> on, and while I get under it to start lifting.
>
> Other problem is, no one seems to make a generic rack that fits a 5'
> bar. There actually seem to be a lot of rack/bench combinations that
> support a 5' bar, apparently aimed at beginner/younger audiences.
> Powertech makes a nice-looking one that can be adjusted for olympic or
> narrow sizes: http://www.powertecfitness.com/narrowbench.htm ... And
> I've even seen some with what they call a "squat rack attachment"
> though I'm not sure if I trust it:
> http://www.fitness-equipment.com/acatalog/Fitness_Equipment_Narrow_Wei..._Bench_
>
> But what I'd really want is just a free-standing, adjustable-height
> rack that can be used either for squats, or for benches, without the
> actual bench attached. Something like this:
> http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/93132.html ... except one that
> supports
> narrow 5' standard bars.
>
> Anyone seen anything like this around?

None of those provide safety if you can't finish a bench. I think you'd
be better off with a sawhorse on either side of your bench, adjusted to
the right height.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com